Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFEMPR11’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFEMPR11’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; dark green-colored leaves; typically grown as a disbud-type; strong upright flowering stems; large decorative-type inflorescences with pale purplish pink-colored ray florets; relative tolerance to high production temperatures; resistance to Fusarium Wilt; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFEMPR11’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFEMPR11’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in February, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 33444, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 11181, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in December, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since December, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFEMPR11’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFEMPR11’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Typically disbudded and grown as a single-stem.     -   5. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   6. Large decorative-type inflorescences with pale purplish         pink-colored ray florets.     -   7. Relatively tolerant to high production temperatures.     -   8. Resistant to Fusarium Wilt.     -   9. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have lighter purplish pink-colored ray florets than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more tolerant to high production temperatures than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have pale purplish pink-colored ray florets whereas plants of the male parent selection have white-colored ray florets. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Delirossano’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Delirossano’ in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have pale purplish pink-colored ray florets whereas ray florets of ‘Delirossano’ are very pale purple in color. In addition, developing ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are yellowish green in color whereas developing ray florets of plants of ‘Delirossano’ are pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFEMPR11’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of upper (top of the photographic sheet) and lower (bottom of the photographic sheet) surfaces of typical leaves (left) and inflorescences (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late spring in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFEMPR11’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             33444, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             11181, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 14 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem disbud-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 84.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 88.1 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 22.6 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 78.4 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7.5 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Densely pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 144A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 14.2 cm. Width: About 9.5 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to             broadly oblong. Apex: Abruptly acute. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely dentate; sinuses             convergent and medium to deep in depth. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately             velvety; very slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Densely pubescent, prominent venation; slightly             velvety; very slightly glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate,             reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close             to between NN137A and 147A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, upper             surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to 147C. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 147C. Petioles: Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately to densely             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             146B; edges, slightly darker than 143A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 147C; edges, slightly darker than 143A.             Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules,             opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem. Length:             About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not             rugose; moderately velvety; very slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent, prominent             venation; slightly velvety; very slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close             to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face             upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             50 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a             disbud-type, however, when grown as a spray-type, about nine             inflorescences develop per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a disbud-type: About             10.9 cm. Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About 8.9 cm.             Depth (height), grown as a disbud-type: About 7.9 cm. Depth             (height), grown as a spray-type: About 4.6 cm. Disc             diameter: About 6 mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1.9 cm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145C.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About             1.8 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:             Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 138A; immature             ray florets, close to between 75C and 75D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 400 arranged in             about ten whorls. Length: About 3.8 cm, varying between 1.5             cm and 4.8 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm, varying between 0.6 cm             and 2.1 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate; strongly concave and             moderately carinate. Apex: Broadly and bluntly acute to             shallowly emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not             undulate. Aspect: Initially upright to about 45° from             vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 75D             strongly tinged with close to 150D; towards the apex,             slightly tinged with close to 11A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to between 150D and 155A; distally, tinged             with close to 75D and at the apex, tinged with close to 11A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155A tinged with             close to 75D and 56B; distally tinged with close to 155A;             venation, similar to lamina colors; color does not change             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             NN155A; distally tinged with close to 155A; venation,             similar to lamina colors; color does not change with             development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 30 massed at             the center of the receptacle. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 80% fused into a tube; upper 20%             free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, free-part: Entire.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer             surfaces: Distally, close to 154D; at the apex, close to             150A; and proximally, close to 157A. Color, fully opened,             inner and outer surfaces: Distally, close to between 150D             and 154D; at the apex, close to 150A; proximally, close to             157A.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 34             arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width:             About 4 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately to densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to 146B; margins, translucent and close to             192D and N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B;             margins, translucent and close to 192D and N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6.8 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 5.5 mm. Length, third             peduncle, when grown as a spray-type: About 11.8 cm.             Diameter, third peduncle, when grown as a spray-type: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright.             Aspect, third peduncle, when grown as a spray-type: About             30° from the flowering stem axis. Texture and luster:             Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 138B;             venation, close to 137B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong.             Anther color: Close to 14A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             1.1 cm. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to 150B             to 150C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 5A. Ovary color: Close to             145A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum     spp. chrysanthemi (FoNL1)). To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum     have not been observed to be resistant or tolerant to pests and     other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under     commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFEMPR11’ as illustrated and described. 